The president of Slovakia, Zuzana Čaputová on a visit to Brno, 2020

The political crisis in Slovakia is over, but for how long?

Overview
On April 1, 2021, Slovak President Zuzana Čaputová appointed a new government headed by Eduard Heger. The new government was formed by the same four entities of the ruling coalition (two movements – OĽANO and We Are Family – and two parties – SaS and For People) that a year ago, after the last parliamentary elections, formed a government with Prime Minister Igor Matovič, OĽaNO’s leader. Compared to the previous arrangement, there have been just minimal personnel changes – a new Health Minister has taken office and a new Minister of Labor and Social Affairs will be appointed soon.
By Grigorij Mesežnikov

Latest Publications

Current Populism in Europe

Current Populism in Europe

Publication

The book Current Populism in Europe: Gender-Backlash and Counter-strategies aims at exploring populism from various new conceptual, empirical and methodological perspectives.

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Governing Ecologically

In voter surveys, the German Greens regularly come out as the party deemed to have by far the greatest competency in this area and in energy policy as well. This study by Arne Jungjohann tries to answer if this image is justified, as it looks at the subnational level of the federal states.

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Further publications

The Green Political Foundation

The Heinrich Böll Foundation is part of the Green political movement that has developed worldwide as a response to the traditional politics of socialism, liberalism, and conservatism. Our main tenets are ecology and sustainability, democracy and human rights, self-determination and justice. We are a Green Think Tank and an International Policy Network.  


The Prague office of the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung is a regional office, responsible for activities in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Croatia.

Events

17
May
Discussion evening Monday, 17. May 2021 in
Prague

Public debate: Populism and the pandemic in Central Europe
17
May
Conference Monday, 17. May 2021 – Wednesday, 19. May 2021 in
Prague

6th Prague Populism Conference
19
May
Book presentation and discussion Wednesday, 19. May 2021 in
Prague

Book launch: Populism and Gender Backlash

The global Energiewende

Energy Transition
Dossier: Focus on Hungary

Democracy

Viktor Orban

Hungary’s Fidesz will lose influence after departing the EPP, but how much?

Analysis
The Hungarian ruling Fidesz party’s delegation to the European Parliament announced on 3 March that they would leave the EPP parliamentary group after the latter approved changes to its internal rules, allowing the caucus to suspend or expel entire national delegations instead of individual MEPs only. Later, Fidesz left the EPP party family as well. It is, therefore, crucial to assess how the end of the Fidesz-EPP relationship will influence the Hungarian cabinet’s ability to represent national interests in the EU and the future of PM Orbán on the European political scene. In short: the decision constitutes a blow to Hungary, but not necessarily to Fidesz.
By Patrik Szicherle
Slovakia 2020: Search for Parliamentary Winner(s)

Slovak 2020 General Elections: Analyses of Parliament Scenario(s)

Article
Slovak political landscape is exceptionally fragmented ahead of February 29 general elections. One of the last opinion polls published before the election polls moratorium foresees eight parties to be represented in the parliament. However, conceivable scenarios include 6 to 12 parties possibly entering the parliament.  This pre-election analysis was published by EuroPolicy in cooperation with the Prague office of the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung.  
By Zuzana Gabrižová
Further articles

Energy & Climate

Jaderná elektrárna Dukovany

Behind a Climate Smokescreen: Czech Support for Nuclear Energy

Analysis
At first glance, it might seem that the Czech climate movement can put the flags out. A government bill on measures for the Czech Republic’s transition to a low-carbon energy industry has been submitted to the Chamber of Deputies and is being debated rapidly in extraordinary sessions. The title of the bill may evoke the anti-fossil law which was urged by Czech environmental organizations in the “Great Challenge” (“Velká výzva”) campaign for years. Nevertheless, as we learn in one of the bill’s introductory articles, the Definition of Terms, a low-carbon electricity generating plant for the purpose of this law means one with a nuclear reactor. The rapid reduction of risks related to global climate change is obviously not the real goal of this bill.
By Karel Polanecký
Further articles

Foreign Affairs and Security

stock photo

Germany’s EU Council presidency paves the way for closer European cooperation - and draws Czechia into it

Analysis
When Germany took over the presidency of the Council of the European Union from Croatia, the rest of the EU Member States welcomed it with a kind of relief. After the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the spring of 2020, Europe found itself on the brink of a deep economic crisis. The EU capacities were occupied with other burning issues: post-COVID economic recovery, negotiations of the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), the climate crisis, the ongoing Brexit negotiations, and the need for a new pact on migration. Germany’s takeover was seen as good luck during a European misfortune, as the country well known for its negotiation skills and experienced diplomats is also the EU’s economic powerhouse.
By Vendula Karásková
Further articles

Dossier

Dossier

The 1956 Hungarian uprising - present day perspectives

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Dossier

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